Arabidopsis CK2 family gene CKB3 involved in abscisic acid signaling / Gene da família Arabidopsis CK2 CKB3 envolvido na sinalização de ácido abscísico

CKB3 is a regulatory (beta) subunit of CK2. In this study Arabidopsis thaliana homozygous T-DNA mutant ckb3 was studied to understand the role of CKB3 in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. The results shown: CKB3 was expressed in all organs and the highest expression in the seeds, followed by the root. During seed germination and root growth the ckb3 mutant showed reduced sensitivity to ABA. The ckb3 mutant had more stomatal opening and increased proline accumulation and leaf water loss. The expression levels of number of genes in the ABA regulatory network had changed. This study demonstrates that CKB3 is an ABA signaling-related gene and may play a positive role in ABA signaling.

CKB3 é uma subunidade reguladora (beta) de CK2. Neste estudo, o mutante homozigoto ckb3 de Arabidopsis thaliana foi estudado para entender o papel da CKB3 na sinalização de ácido abscísico (ABA). Os resultados apresentados: CKB3 foi expresso em todos os órgãos e a maior expressão nas sementes, seguida pela raiz. Durante a germinação das sementes e o crescimento radicular, o mutante ckb3 mostrou sensibilidade reduzida ao ABA. O mutante ckb3 teve mais abertura estomática e aumento do acúmulo de prolina e perda de água nas folhas. Os níveis de expressão do número de genes na rede reguladora da ABA haviam mudado. Este estudo demonstra que CKB3 é um gene relacionado à sinalização ABA e pode desempenhar um papel positivo na sinalização ABA.

Arabidopsis CK2 family gene CKB3 involved in abscisic acid signaling

Abstract CKB3 is a regulatory (beta) subunit of CK2. In this study Arabidopsis thaliana homozygous T-DNA mutant ckb3 was studied to understand the role of CKB3 in abscisic acid (ABA) signaling. The results shown: CKB3 was expressed in all organs and the highest expression in the seeds, followed by the root. During seed germination and root growth the ckb3 mutant showed reduced sensitivity to ABA. The ckb3 mutant had more stomatal opening and increased proline accumulation and leaf water loss. The expression levels of number of genes in the ABA regulatory network had changed. This study demonstrates that CKB3 is an ABA signaling-related gene and may play a positive role in ABA signaling.

Resumo CKB3 é uma subunidade reguladora (beta) de CK2. Neste estudo, o mutante homozigoto ckb3 de Arabidopsis thaliana foi estudado para entender o papel da CKB3 na sinalização de ácido abscísico (ABA). Os resultados apresentados: CKB3 foi expresso em todos os órgãos e a maior expressão nas sementes, seguida pela raiz. Durante a germinação das sementes e o crescimento radicular, o mutante ckb3 mostrou sensibilidade reduzida ao ABA. O mutante ckb3 teve mais abertura estomática e aumento do acúmulo de prolina e perda de água nas folhas. Os níveis de expressão do número de genes na rede reguladora da ABA haviam mudado. Este estudo demonstra que CKB3 é um gene relacionado à sinalização ABA e pode desempenhar um papel positivo na sinalização ABA.

Voluntary exercise prior to traumatic brain injury alters miRNA expression in the injured mouse cerebral cortex

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) may be important mediators of the profound molecular and cellular changes that occur after traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the changes and possible roles of miRNAs induced by voluntary exercise prior to TBI are still not known. In this report, the microarray method was used to demonstrate alterations in miRNA expression levels in the cerebral cortex of TBI mice that were pretrained on a running wheel (RW). Voluntary RW exercise prior to TBI: i) significantly decreased the mortality rate and improved the recovery of the righting reflex in TBI mice, and ii) differentially changed the levels of several miRNAs, upregulating some and downregulating others. Furthermore, we revealed global upregulation of miR-21, miR-92a, and miR-874 and downregulation of miR-138, let-7c, and miR-124 expression among the sham-non-runner, TBI-non-runner, and TBI-runner groups. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction data (RT-qPCR) indicated good consistency with the microarray results. Our microarray-based analysis of miRNA expression in mice cerebral cortex after TBI revealed that some miRNAs such as miR-21, miR-92a, miR-874, miR-138, let-7c, and miR-124 could be involved in the prevention and protection afforded by voluntary exercise in a TBI model.

Cytokine expression patterns and mesenchymal stem cell karyotypes from the bone marrow microenvironment of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes

The purpose of this study was to explore cytokine expression patterns and cytogenetic abnormalities of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from the bone marrow microenvironment of Chinese patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Bone marrow samples were obtained from 30 cases of MDS (MDS group) and 30 healthy donors (control group). The expression pattern of cytokines was detected by customized protein array. The karyotypes of MSCs were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization. Compared with the control group, leukemia inhibitory factor, stem cell factor (SCF), stromal cell-derived factor (SDF-1), bone morphogenetic protein 4, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) stimulating factor, and transforming growth factor-β in the MDS group were significantly downregulated (P<0.05), while interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and programmed death ligand (B7-H1) were significantly upregulated (P<0.05). For chromosome abnormality analysis, the detection rate of abnormal karyotypes (+8, -8, -20, 20q-, -Y, -7, 5q-) was 30% in the MDS group and 0% in the control group. In conclusion, the up- and downregulated expression of these cytokines might play a key role in the pathogenesis of MDS. Among them, SCF and SDF-1 may play roles in the apoptosis of HSCs in MDS; and IFN-γ, TNF-α, and B7-H1 may be associated with apoptosis of bone marrow cells in MDS. In addition, the abnormal karyotypes might be actively involved in the pathogenesis of MDS. Further studies are required to determine the role of abnormal karyotypes in the occurrence and development of MDS.

Incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury following transarterial chemoembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an effective first‑line therapy for intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Acute renal injury may be induced after transarterial chemoembolization because of iodinated radiocontrast medium, but its incidence, risk factors, and prognosis remain unclear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 166 HCC patients with a total of 316 TACE treatments. The incidence, risk factors, and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) were examined. RESULTS: The incidence of post‑TACE AKI was 21.84% (69/316) according to Barrett and Parfrey criteria, whereas 7.59% (24/316) according to acute kidney injury network (AKIN) criteria. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that serum total bilirubin (TB) (>13.5 μmol/L; odds ratio [OR]: 1.871 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.044–3.352; P = 0.035) and hemoglobin (HGB) level (<120 g/L; OR: 1.823, 95% CI: 1.019–3.264; P = 0.043) were associated with the development of AKI after TACE procedure in accordance to Barrett and Parfrey criteria. Meanwhile, age (>55 years; OR: 3.456, 95% CI: 1.107–10.790; P = 0.033), post‑TACE AKI history (OR: 7.108, 95% CI: 1.387–36.434, P = 0.019), and serum aminotransferase level (>55 U/L; OR: 4.420, 95% CI: 1.792–10.906; P = 0.001) were associated with the development of AKI after TACE procedure in accordance to AKIN criteria. Total hospitalization cost was significantly higher (P = 0.034) in the patients with AKI after TACE procedure according to Barrett and Parfrey criteria. A post‑TACE AKI diagnosis was associated with mortality in any definition used (P = 0.034 and P = 0.001 for Barrett and Parfrey and AKIN criteria, respectively). CONCLUSION: The present study showed that the incidence of post‑TACE AKI was high in HCC patients (i.e., 7.59–21.84%) depending on criteria used. HGB (<120 g/L), serum TB (>13.5), and aminotransferase level (>55 U/L), age (>55 years) and post‑TACE AKI history may be predictors of post‑TACE AKI in HCC patients. The development of post‑TACE AKI was associated with the risk of renal replacement treatment, prolonged renal insufficiency, or mortality according to AKIN criteria.

An epidemiological investigation of congenital Schistosoma japonicum transmission in Hubei Province, PR China.

A cohort study was conducted in Hubei Province, China, following serious flooding of the Yangtze River in the autumn of 1998 to investigate the possibility of congenital transmission of Schistosoma japonicum in humans. The cohort investigated was comprised of 205 women and their 208 infants born between 1 September and 30 December 1998. Blood and fecal samples from all the women and their infants were collected and examined for S. japonicum infection. Positive specific antibody titers were found in 14 (6.8%) of the mothers, but no fecal egg excretion was observed. All infants had negative specific antibody titers and no S. japonicum eggs were found in their feces. Hence, the present study coud not confirm congenital S. japonicum transmission in humans. Further studies are highly wanted to study the impact of prenatal exposure of S. japonicum on the offspring.

Nationwide survey of human parasite in China.

A nationwide survey of human parasites in China was conducted during 1988-1992, with a coverage of 30 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (P/A/M). A total of 2,848 pilot sites in 726 counties were selected by random sampling, and 1,477,742 individuals residing on were surveyed by fecal examination. The status of paragonimiasis, hydatid diseases, cysticercosis and trichinellosis were summarized through data review. The overall infection rate of intestinal parasites was 62.6% whereas at provincial level, the highest infection rate (94.7%) was recovered in Hainan, and the lowest (17.5%) in Heilong-jiang. A high proportion (43.3%) of polyparasitism among the infected population (882,080) was revealed. Altogether 56 species of parasites comprising protozoa (19), trematode (16), cestodes (8), nematodes (12) and thorny-headed worm (1) were discovered. During the survey a new species and several new records were documented. The number of the population infected with common intestinal parasites was estimated. The diversities of parasite distribution were noted in different nationalities as well as in varied occupations.